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Search and rescue team approaches chopper crash site
A search and rescue (SAR) team comprised of personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) has been dispatched to evacuate the air forceâs Super Puma helicopter, which made an emergency landing in a remote area of Papua on Friday
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search and rescue (SAR) team comprised of personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) has been dispatched to evacuate the air force's Super Puma helicopter, which made an emergency landing in a remote area of Papua on Friday.
Jayapura Air Force Base spokesperson Maj. Juni Kurniawati said on Sunday that the SAR team had been dispatched to Batom, the nearest location with the crash site, to ease the evacuation process.
The SAR team included a medical team, which brought rescue and medical equipment, she said.
Citing a recent report, Juni further said an Airfast helicopter belonging to mining company PT Freeport Indonesia had been dispatched to help the evacuation process.
She said the Airfast had flown to Dekai at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday while a Cassa aircraft and Bell helicopter had been readied for the evacuation in Batom. It takes only four minutes for them to reach the crash site from Batom.
'Hopefully, the evacuation process can be carried out today,' said Juni, adding that a number of crew members and personnel from TNI-AU Battalion 133 were reportedly injured during the incident.
The Super Puma helicopter, which was piloted by Maj. Tarigan and carried 14 passengers including crew members, was reported to have lost contact in its flight from Sentani to Kiwirok.
The helicopter crashed in a remote location that is reportedly quite difficult for the SAR team to reach to carry out the evacuation. (ebf)(+++)
